Cameron Crowe issued an apology this week for casting Emma Stone in "Aloha" after the director received a barrage of criticism for having the American actress play a woman who's supposed to be a quarter Hawaiian and a quarter Chinese in his new film.
Stone plays Allison Ng in "Aloha," which has so far
received subpar reviews, according to USA Today. Many people have spoken out since the movie's debut, slamming Stone's casting and the film's title in general.
Crowe took to his blog, TheUncool, Tuesday to extend a “heartfelt apology” for the casting choices.
“Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng,” Crowe wrote. “I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heartfelt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice.”
The director then attempted to explain to his critics why Stone was cast in the first place.
“As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud quarter Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one,” he wrote. “A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that.”
Crowe suggested that anyone unhappy with the choice should blame him and not the actress.
“Emma Stone was chief among those who did tireless research, and if any part of her fine characterization has caused consternation and controversy, I am the one to blame,” he wrote.
Crowe also said he is “grateful” for the dialogue surrounding the film.
"So many of us are hungry for stories with more racial diversity, more truth in representation, and I am anxious to help tell those stories in the future."
Unlike the director’s past box office hits like “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous,” “Aloha” only brought in a measly $10 million at the
box office during its opening weekend, according to Moviefone.com.
Even as Crowe apologized, many took to Twitter to voice their continued dissatisfaction with the film’s all-white cast and portrayal of minorities.